Social Network Analysis Program (SNAP)

We use social network analysis to investigate how ties among people shape their experience and are associated with health and well being. For example, dense networks among friends and family have been shown to be useful for dealing with crises and for marshalling help. Loose ties and links beyond immediate family and friends are useful for life transitions (like finding jobs, or getting information). We also use social network analysis to investigate ties among community organisations and groups, as a means to investigate community-based collaboration.

In schools, we are using social network analysis to track the impact of interventions to make schools more socially inclusive and welcoming, for staff and students.

We have also used social network analysis methods to track the history of ideas in public health and to investigate how ties among countries (trading relationships) predict infant mortality rates.

At a neighbourhood level we are using social network analysis to investigate the ties among people created by local events and places – cafes, parks, community festivals and so on.

SNAP has been the principal vehicle that links Centre researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at the University with researchers from the Department of Sociology. SNAP is headed up by Valerie Haines, from Sociology.

Feature publications

Hawe P, Ghali L. Use of social network analysis to map the social relationships of staff and teachers at school. Health Education Research 2008;23(1):62-69.

Moore S, Shiell A, Haines V, Riley T, Collier C. Contextualizing and assessing the social capital of seniors in congregate housing residences: study design and methods BMC Public Health 2005, 5:38.

Moore DS, Texeira A, Shiell A. The health of nations in a global context: trade, global stratification, and infant mortality rates. Social Science and Medicine 2006; 63: 165-178.

Hawe P, Webster C, Shiell A. A glossary of terms to navigate the field of social network analysis. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2004; 58: 971-975.